Beer and Drinking

Question

Is drinking beer halal or haram in Islam? What about non-alcoholic beer?

Bottom Line

Non-alcoholic beer is halal. Alcoholic beer, like wine, vodka, rum, and all intoxicating drinks, is haram.

Quick Answer

The default rule in Islam is that all food and drink are halal unless specifically declared haram in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Non-alcoholic beer that is 0.0% alcohol and not intoxicating is permissible. Alcoholic beer and other intoxicating drinks remain haram, even in small amounts.

Key Takeaways

• Non-alcoholic beer is halal if it contains absolutely 0.0% alcohol.
• Alcoholic beer, wine, rum, vodka, and any intoxicating drink are haram.

Detailed Answer

There is nothing wrong with you eating what you need to eat or drinking what suffices you, for the basic rule on food and drink is permissibility. What Allah and His Messenger ﷺ made haram is what becomes restricted. Among these are alcoholic drinks, which Islam prohibits absolutely.

The Qur’an states:

“O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and divination are abominations of Shaytan’s handiwork. So avoid them so that you may be successful.” Qur’an 5:90

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, a small amount of it is also haram.” Abu Dawud 3681

This includes beer, wine, vodka, rum, and every other intoxicating drink.

Non-Alcoholic Beer

If a beer is truly 0.0% alcohol, it is halal. However, many “non-alcoholic” beers on the market contain up to 0.5% alcohol. Scholars advise caution here, because such drinks fall into doubtful matters. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt.” Tirmidhi 2518

Scientific Note

Food scientists use methods like gas chromatography to measure even tiny traces of ethanol in “non-alcoholic” drinks. By international standards:

• In many countries, “non-alcoholic” means below 0.5% ABV, not absolute zero.
• Only products certified as 0.0% ABV are truly alcohol-free.

This is why some brands may be safe, while others are doubtful.

What This Means for You

You may drink non-alcoholic beer only if it is certified 0.0% alcohol. Alcoholic beer, wine, rum, vodka, and all intoxicating drinks are haram in Islam. If in doubt, leave it for the sake of Allah, as purity in what you consume strengthens both faith and dignity.

And Allah knows best.

References

Qur’an

1. Al-Ma’idah 5:90: Intoxicants are forbidden.

Hadith

2. Abu Dawud 3681: Whatever intoxicates in large amounts is haram in small quantities.
3. Tirmidhi 2518: Leave what causes doubt for what does not cause doubt.

Secondary Sources

4. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu‘ al-Fatawa – Rulings on intoxicants and their prohibition.
5. Scientific studies on non-alcoholic beers: analytical testing of residual ethanol (e.g., gas chromatography methods, MDPI & PubMed reports).
6. Contemporary Fiqh Councils – Consensus on prohibition of alcoholic beer; caution on trace alcohol in “non-alcoholic” drinks.